Francois Letexier

Francois Letexier is a referee who officiated the recent UEFA Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid. He is newsworthy because he stopped the match for 10 minutes after Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior reported alleged racist abuse by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni. Letexier made the crossed arms gesture, a signal indicating racist abuse, after speaking with Vinicius. The incident has sparked a UEFA investigation into the allegations, and has drawn criticism towards Benfica and their coach, Jose Mourinho, for their handling of the situation. Letexier's actions highlight the increasing focus on addressing racism in football and the role of referees in responding to such incidents during matches. His decision to halt the game underscores the seriousness with which UEFA and match officials are treating allegations of discriminatory behavior.